A Rose of Tralee passed her Leaving Cert exams just two weeks after a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis.

Beauty queen Elysha Brennan, 22, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma days before she was due to sit the tests.

But instead of worrying about her health and treatment, the Meath Rose was more concerned about missing the tests she’d studied so hard to sit.

She revealed: “It was my repeat Leaving Certificate and I had really put everything into it to get the points to study medicine.

“When I was told I had to undergo chemotherapy and radiation straight away, I was more upset about the exams than the diagnosis because I’d put my life on hold for a year to study.”

The student’s oncologist agreed to defer treatment for three weeks while Elysha, from Bettystown, did her tests. She said: “I sat the exams in a complete blur but when devastating news comes like that you get clarity.

“This is what I had to do and while I’d no control over the cancer, I knew I’d some control over the exams.

“I reckoned I could come out of the Leaving Cert and go into my next battle, knowing I gave this my best shot.”

Four days after her final agricultural science exam, the ex-Gormanston College student started her chemo.

She said: “I was told I then needed another four rounds plus 15 sessions of radiation.

“Chemotherapy is cumulative so I felt lousy but in the middle of the treatment I got my results and the offer for medicine which got me through.”

Elysha has clearly been blessed with brains and beauty as she scored an impressive 575 points and bagged herself a spot in the Royal College of Surgeons where she is entering her third year of medicine.

She recalled: “I knew I had an incredible experience to look forward to and I had the support of my parents Donal and Christine and my incredible family who kept me going through it all.”

Elysha has been in remission for two years and is concentrating on this weekend’s regional finals where she hopes to qualify for a place at this year’s Rose of Tralee and become Meath’s first hopeful to make it through.

She said: “It’s always been on my bucket list to be a Rose and the experience so far is amazing. Anything more will be a bonus.”